Development
In 2022, director Maruthi narrated a horror comedy script to Prabhas to which he agreed. While Prabhas was already shooting Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD , he decided to shoot for the film simultaneously and Maruthi began pre-production work. [13] The film marks the maiden collaboration between Prabhas and Maruthi, and Maruthi called it a “golden opportunity” to direct a star like Prabhas. [14]
The film was tentatively titled Raja Deluxe, to be produced by DVV Entertainment, however, production was later transferred to People Media Factory. [15] Several titles like Royal and Ambassador were considered, [16] however, the title The Raja Saab was announced in January 2024 on the occasion of Sankranti. [17] It is reported that the film takes place at the backdrop of an old cinema theatre. [18] Prabhas reportedly plays dual roles in the film, as the owner of an theatre and another as a ghost, playing both grandson and grandfather. [19]
Several actresses like Raashii Khanna and Sreeleela were considered for the film, [20] before signing Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar as the three lead actresses. [18] [21] Nayanthara was also roped in for a special song. [22] Later, Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani also joined the film for important roles. [23]
Filming
Principal photography of the film began in October 2022. [24] A special set was erected at the Aluminium Factory, Gachibowli in Hyderabad for the film. The next schedule took place in Kanchipuram. [20] Filming continued at a stretch from a period that began after the completion of Prabhas's previous project, Kalki 2898 AD . This block commenced in late July or mid-August and continued uninterrupted until the end of December, totalling approximately five months. During this period, the technical crew worked 16 to 18 hours per day, often from 6:00 AM to 10:00 or 11:00 PM, for more than 120 days. Actors were scheduled in 8-hour shifts, while the crew maintained extended hours to manage the demands of filming on the set. [25] [26] [27]
The film was shot on what is the largest indoor film set ever constructed in India, spanning 41,256 square feet. This set, designed by art director Rajeevan Nambiar, was erected on property owned by People Media Factory in Aziznagar, Moinabad, near Hyderabad. Over 1,200 workers completed the set in four months, constructing a full-scale haveli (mansion) with multiple rooms, a drawing room, dining area, library, kitchen, and custom-designed spaces to serve the film’s horror-comedy narrative. [28] [29] The climax of the film, running for 40 minutes, was shot entirely on this set and required the full resources of the production to coordinate the elaborate sequences. After completing filming, the film entered a post-production phase that included nearly 300 days of visual effects work. [30]
